By Adam Cvecka — Correspondent

All students in Sharon High School will be adopting a seven-day rotating schedule as well as a seventh period next school year. In addition, upperclassmen will be receiving mandatory physical education in their schedule. 

Five years ago the SHS Scheduling Committee, led by the Dean of Academic Affairs, Mr. Robert Pomer, started looking into the possibility of a new schedule. Their main goals were to advance study opportunities for students and to uphold a Massachusetts state law requiring all students in grades 9-12 to receive one full semester of wellness. 

Now, the new schedule has been approved. 

In a recent interview, Mr. Pomer explained the mechanics of the new schedule. “The seventh period will be a study hall. It will be rotating, just like other academic classes, but it will not be a seventh subject, so you can’t take another class,” he said. 

According to Ms. Hannah Cohen, Social Studies teacher and representative from the Scheduling Committee, this setup was the best way to add a more structured studying time in school while limiting the unstructured time of the current ACES block. 

While students cannot take a class during their directed study period, they do have other options. Music options including band, orchestra, and choir will meet 3-4 times a cycle during the study hall. Students who would take a help desk, an internship, or an academic lab will also meet during this period. To compensate for the new period, Day G will be inserted into the schedule, creating a seven day schedule.  

Starting next school year, upperclassmen (11th and 12th graders) will receive two Wellness classes scheduled during the directed study hall, and the other four directed study hall classes will stay in a study hall with all the benefits listed above.

The future of ACES block is still unknown, as the committee has yet to decide on the specifics. However, they are aware that despite the uncertainty, some form of ACES will continue to exist in a shorter format. Even though there are going to be many changes added to the high school schedule, the general bell schedule format, including school start and end times, will remain the same. 

This change is a significant shift for the SHS community. All the teachers understand that students often struggle to adapt to new circumstances. However, members of the SHS Scheduling Committee firmly believe that this change will ultimately benefit the school. By implementing this new scheduling system, they strive to provide students with more opportunities for personal and academic growth while prioritizing their mental well-being.